Cougars in Manitoba

tracker · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:09 am Post subject: Cougars in Manitoba

Had one of the major Winnipeg newspapers showing photos that a guy took of a cougar up near Duck Mountain which is just about an hour and a half--two hours north of me. The coog and taken an elk calf and was returning to feed on it. Everyone's all excited that this cougar's been spotted. I was out with a buddy who's a conservation officer in early December and the two of us were tracking one about 300 miles east of where that one was photographed. There's been all these rumors flying around about whether they're in this part of the country for years and now this guy's photos are proof. Few spottings that had been reported to the media over the years didn't leave me any doubt. It's not like the cat's going to stand still for an interview and it's pretty hard to mistake a lynx for something that much bigger. My buddy, the conservation officer, said they're protected, you can only take one if you're defending your life. I wonder if I can consider a cougar at 150 yards a threat to my life? Very Happy

1895ss · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Cougars in Manitoba

We've had cougars here in Southern Sask for many years. It is not uncommon to find tracks and many people have seen them. About 20 years ago they said no there weren't any here but a buddy of mine that lived 5 miles from town could hear them at his farm. They have even been spotted in the city along the creek that runs through the city. My uncle has an acreage 40 miles north east of the city and has had lots of tracks around his place and they have been bothering his horses from time to time. I haven't heard whether they are protected around here or not but I would say that if it was within seeing distance of me that I would take it as a threat. Very Happy

tracker · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Cougars in Manitoba

Yeah, that "within seeing distance" was pretty much what I wanted to hear there partner Cheers

moose2 · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Cougars in Manitoba

The last few years there has been an influx of big cats around here in
SW North Dakota. My old lab and I put one out this fall while pheasant hunting along a dry creek bed at midday. Must have caught it snoozing.
Was great to actually see one, had was pretty happy that it turned tail and ran up the creek bed and disappeard. Was about 20 ft. away when we first saw it. Having big cats around also makes one alittle more vigilant when calling coyotes.--tr

1895ss · Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: Cougars in Manitoba

moose2 wrote:

Having big cats around also makes one alittle more vigilant when calling coyotes.--tr

I'll say ......... you want to be checking your backside from time to time during a call setup. Shocked

cmiddleton · Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2007 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Cougars in Manitoba

i have had them come to the calls 4 times here in wyoming.
started carrying a tag and never had another show up